Cut-out



F. O. COSEO April 5, 1932.

CUT-OUT Original Filed Dec. 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet F, C. COSEO April 5,1932.

GUT-OUT Original Filed Dec.

16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Fed Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FRED C. GOSEO, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREYMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO CUT-OUTOriginal application filed December 16, 1925, Seria1 No. 75,828. Dividedand. this application filed December 12, 1929. Serial No. 413,625.

r The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvementsin cut-outs adapted to the protection of electric circuits, andparticularly to cut-outs of the type having sections of readily fusibleconductors adapted to be ruptured by excessive flow of currenttheret-hrough.

The especial object of this invention is to provide a cut-out having aplurality of fuses adapted to be successively and expeditiouslyconnected into an electric circuit.

A further object is to provide a cut-out enclosed in a gas tight casingadapted to exclude explosive gas laden atmosphere of a coal mine fromcontact with elements subject to electric charge, and having meanswhereby the successive fuses may be connected into a circuit withoutadmitting the mine atmosphere to the interior of the casing.

A further object is to provide apparatus such as above described withmeans to insure against accidental or unauthorized admission of theexternal atmosphere to the interior of the casing.

The means whereby I attain these objects are'fully set forth in thefollowing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings ofwhich- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, showing the front cover removed and certain parts of thecasing broken away to reveal the interior mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1, partly insection, and having the operating handle and top cover plate removed toreveal the interior mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an electric circuit whichincludes my improved cutout.

Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures.

In my co-pending application, Ser. No. 75.828, filed December 16th,1925, of which this application is a division, I have shown an electriccut-out enclosed in an explosion proof case to which is connected twoconduits equipped with the devices of my present invention.

To facilitate the description of my 1mproved cut-out I have provided, inFig. 3 of the drawings, a diagrammatic illustration of the principalelectric circuits of a locomotive adapted to the haulage of coal in amine.

In this diagram the numeral 1 indicates a storage battery, or othersuitable and convenient source of electric current supply. The numeral 2indicates, as an entirety, a cut-out of the class to which my inventionrelates. The numeral 3 indicates a controller of the common and wellknown type whereby the flow of electric current may be regulated in themotor 4. The battery 1 is connected with the cut-out 2 by two conductors5 and 6 which are preferably encased in a flexible conductor cable ofthe type commonly used in coal mining apparatus, and the cut-out 2 isconnected with the controller 3 and motor 4 through the conductors 7 and8 which are preferably a part of the permanent wiring of the locomotive.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the numeral 9 refers toa casing whichis preferably formed of cast metal, but which may, if de sired, befabricated in any other convenient manner. The casing 9 has a relativelylarge circular window at its front side to afford access to themechanism mounted within. On the edge. 10 of the circular window areformed screw threads adapted to engage cor responding threads formed onan annular flange 11 of the circular cover plate 12. Formed on the coverplate 12 and projecting beyond the annular flange 11, is a circularflange 13 the face of which is finished to engage a correspondinglyfinished face of the casing 9 to form a gas tight joint when the coverplate 12 is screwed firmly to place. The flange 13 is notched at 14 toreceive the hasp of a padlock 15 when it is placed upon the studs 16 ofthe casing, and by that engagement prevents rotation of the plate in theunscrewing direction to break the seal of the casing.

Formed in one end of the casing 9 is a second circular aperture having acover plate 17 screw threaded in place and adapted to form a gas tightjoint in the same manner as that above described. At the center of thecover plate 17 there is formed a ournal bearthe fuses away from theholder.

ing 18 in which is rotatively mounted a shaft 19 which projects on bothsides of said cover plate. When the cover plate 17 is in operativeposition, the inner end of the shaft 19 is engaged by a journal bearing20 formed in the metal of the opposite wall of the easing, and to theouter end of this shaft 19 is fixed an operating handle 21 whereby saidshaft may be conveniently rotated. The middle portion 22 of the shaft19, bet-ween the journal bearings 18 and 20, is preferably formed squarefor the more convenient attachment of parts intended to rotate with theshaft, and this square portion 22 is preferably encased in an insulatingsleeve 23 to in sure against its accidental connection with theelectrically charged parts of the apparatus. Mounted upon the squareportion 22 of the shaft 19 are two suitably shaped blocks 24 and 25formed of suitable insulating material, and spaced apart longitudinallyof the shaft, to each of which is attached a plurality of metal plates26. Upon each of the plates 26 is formed a spring clip 27 adapted to receive and securely hold in place the axially projecting metallicterminal strips 28 and 29 of the cylindrical fuse cartridge 30 of thecommon and well known type. A block of suitable insulating material 31rigidly attached to the back walls of the casing 9, supports two brushholders 32 and 33 to which are secured the brushes 34 and 35 respectively. The brushes 34 and 35 are of the type commonly used in electriccontrollers and similar apparatus, and are adapted to simultaneouslycontact with the terminals 28 and 29 of one of the fuse cartridges 30,in such manner that by rotation of the shaft 19 the cartridges 30 may besuccessively connected between the brush holders 32 and 33. The brushholders 32 and 33 are each provided with clamping members 36 and 37whereby permanent connection is made with the conductors 7 and 38.

As shown in Figure 2, block 24 is circular and is provided on itscircumferential face with recesses 24 in which the ends 28 of the fusesare seated. Block 25 is similar in form to block 24. The clips 27 whichare positioned above the recesses have offset portions 27' which engagethe ends of the terminal strips to prevent longitudinal displacement ofthe fuses and shoulders 27 which engage over the ends to prevent radialmovement of I The terminal strips are released by pressing clips 27toward plate 26.

As may be seen by reference to Figure 2, recesses 24 are of such depththat the top lateral edges of the terminal strips are flush with themarginal portions of the block adjacent the recesses, so that thebrushes may ride smoothly on and off the strips.

In the illustration of my invention here presented provision is made forthe connection of the cut-out 2 with a source of electric supply bymeans of a removable plug 39 having, in this instance, two contactmembers 40 and 41 which are normally soldered to the ends of theconductors 5 and 6 of the flexible conductor cable above referred to.The contact members 40 and 41 are adapted to engage with metallic studs42 and 43 supported upon an insulating base 44 positioned in thecylindrical extension 45 of the casing. These parts are so proportionedthat when the plug 39 is thrustinto the cylindrical extension 45 tocause the connection of the members 40 and 41 with the studs 42 and 43,said plugs will effectively close said cylindrical extension to preventthe passage of gases to or from the interior of the casing. A flange 46formed upon the plug 39 projects over the end of the cylindrical casing45 and this flange is engaged by a ring 47 which is screw threaded andadapted to engage corresponding screws formed on the outside of theextension 45 to securely hold the plug 39 in its operative position. Acollar 48 pinned to the plug 39 prevents the accidental separation ofthe ring 47 from the plug 39, and on this collar is formed a pluralityof radially extending projections 49 each adapted to engage the has p ofapadlock 50 when it is in place u on a lug 51 formed on the ring 47.ment of one of the projections 49 with the padlock 5O rotative movementof ring 47 is limited to such an extent as to insure against theunauthorized removal of the plug 39 from the cylindrical extension 45.extends from the stud 43 to the brush holder 32, and the other stud 42is in permanent connection with the conductor 8 of the locomotivecircuit. By the arrangement of parts above described the battery 1 maybe connected with the controller 3 and motor 4 in such manner as toinclude one of the fuses 30, and thereby protect the apparatus frominjury by an excessive flow of electric current. If a fuse 30 is burnedin service, due to overload,

rotation of the handle 21 will remove the terminals 28 and 29 of theburnt fuse from contact with the brushes 34 and 35 and move a secondfuse 52 into operative relation therewith, restoring the insuranceagainst possible ignition of an explosive atmosphere by the accidentalformation of electric are at the terminals of the fuse.

To insure the opening of the electric circuit before the removal of theplugs 39, I

such manner that when said plug is in opera- A conductor 38 3 By sucengage tive position the rod 53 will be held at one extremity of itslongitudinal movement. A spring 59 is arranged to move said rodlongitudinally in the opposite direction when the plug 39 is withdrawnfrom the casing. A lug 60 formed on the rod 53 is adapted, by itsengagement with an aperture 61 in the collar 62 fixed to the shaft 19,when the plug is withdrawn, to prevent rotation of said shaft, and theparts are so shaped and arranged as to prevent withdrawal of the plug 39when the shaft 19 is so turned that the aperture 61 is out of alignmentwith the plug 60. By this arrangement of parts the plug 39 may not bewithdrawn from the cylindrical extension 4:5 of the casing while thebrushes 34 and 35 are in contact with the terminals 28 and 29 of thefuse cartridge 30, nor can the fuse cartridge 30 be moved intoconnection wit-h the brushes 34 and 35 while the plug 39 is withdrawnfrom the casing.

In order to complete the gas proof enclosure of the apparatus, I haveprovided conduits 63 extending from the casing 9 of the cut-out 2 to thegas tight casing of the controller 3 and the motor 4. These conduits 63are preferably formed of flexible tubing, such for example as rubber andfabric hose, which is impervious to gas and affords desirable mechanicalprotection againstabrasion of the insulation of the enclosed conductors.Adjacent the end of the conduit 63 is placed a coupling fitting having asleeve 64 which closely fits the outside of the conduit, and a fiange 65which is faced to form a gas tight joint with a suitable finishedsurface surrounding an aperture 66 of the easing 9, and is securelyclamped thereto by suitable machine screws 67. On the inner surface ofthe sleeve 64: there are formed one or more annular flanges 68 adaptedto be forced into the material of the conduit by the expansion of athimble 69 which is rolled into the conduit when the parts areassembled, to securely hold the parts together and insure the jointagainst leakage. A proj ecting end 70 of the conduit extends through theaperture 66 to afford mechanical protection to the installation of theconductor. The connections of the conduits 63 with the casing of thecontroller, motor, or other elements of the apparatus, may be made inthe same manner as with the cut-out 2, thereby providing a completeunitary system of protection from explosion for the entire apparatus,whereby the said apparatus may be protected, not only from accidentalignition of the gas charged atmosphere, but also from unauthorized ormalicious tampering with the protecting agencies.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a fusecartridge having axially projecting terminal strips, of a movablesupport for said cartridge comprising spaced blocks provided withrecesses for receiving the strips in flush relation to the adjacentblock surfaces, means for retaining the strips in said recesses with aface portion of each strip exposed, and brushes arranged to ride on oroff said exposed portions from or to the adjacent block surfaces uponmovement of the support.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a fusecartridge having axially projecting terminal strips, of a movablesupport for said cartridge comprising spaced blocks provided withrecesses for receiving the strips in flush relation to the blocksurfaces, means gripping the longitudinal extremities of the strips forretaining the strips in said recesses with a face portion of each stripintermediate the cartridge end and gripping means exposed, and brushesarranged to ride on or off said exposed portions from or to the adjacentblock surfaces upon movement of the support.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a fusecartridge having axially projecting terminal strips, of a movablesupport for said cartridge comprising spaced blocks upon which saidstrips rest, means gripping the longitudinal extremities of the stripsfor holding them on the blocks with a face portion of each stripintermediate the cartridge end and gripping means exposed, and brushesarranged for cooperation with said exposed portions.

4:. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a fusecartridge having axially projecting terminal strips, of a movablesupport for said cartridge comprising spaced blocks upon which saidstrips rest, and spring clips mounted on the blocks and having shoulderportions engageable over the strip extremities to hold the strips on theblocks with face portions thereof exposed, and brushes arranged forcooperation with said exposed portions.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a fusecartridge having axially projecting terminal strips, of a rotary supportfor said cartridge comprising spaced circular blocks in coaxial relationand provided with recesses for receiving the strips in flush relation tothe adjacent block surfaces, means for retaining the strips in saidrecesses with a face portion of each strip exposed, and brushes arrangedto ride on or off said exposed portions from or to the adjacent blocksurfaces upon movement of the support.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRED C. COSEO.

